Jaklewicz: A final look at the year that was in Abilene

Joy Lewis/Reporter-News
The Splash Pad is under the final stages of construction on Thursday, August 2, 2012 in Nelson Park before it's opening on Saturday, August 4, 2012.

Welcome to the day of starting again, otherwise known as 2013.

Where are you with those resolutions — exercising regularly, eating healthy, getting organized, changing your attitude, putting money in savings, putting money away for the Dallas Cowboys next Super Bowl appearance in 2027?

Ah, sleeping in, cinnamon rolls, bowl games and finally getting around to see "The Hobbit" come first, you say.

Thinking back on 2012 in Abilene, it was a year when the lows were lower than the highs high. But for the sake of starting fresh, and hopefully with a sense of humor, let's review the past year from the far side.

MELLOW YELLOW

With the holiday season gone, we don't have to listen to the "The Twelve Days of Christmas" again. But did you notice the lyrics this year were changed from "a partridge in pear tree" to "a yellow car parked downtown."

Give justice of the peace candidate Lydia Long credit. At her pre-dawn strategy sessions, she chose the best places to park her banana-colored SmartCar, on which signs encouraged residents to vote for her. She found the darnedest places. Once, she parked inside a voter's mailbox.

And with all that driving, she needed only to fill up twice. Smart.

SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY …

Bjorn Zelisko and I eagerly awaited the renovation of McMurry University's tennis courts in 2012.

Bjorn Zelisko and I eagerly await the renovation of McMurry University's tennis courts in 2013.

Empires have been built and fortunes made and lost faster than this project has progressed. Why in the world they chose to upgrade the football stadium first is beyond us. Rick Meyers will tell you that tennis rules in Abilene.

So before Bjorn and I are too old to play — not that we play all that well now — let's get Wimbledon West finished!

DUST IN THE WIND

Perhaps you gave or were given a candle as a gift. Vanilla and apple-cinnamon are two favorite fragrances.

Of course, in Texas, you also can light a candle that smells like leather. There's probably "Barn," too, but I haven't come across that yet.

A suggestion: A scent called "Dust," as if there wasn't enough of that in the air and covering our vehicles. Might sell better than "Baked earth."

CALLING OUT VICTOR

In six weeks, one of the social events of the year will be held: the daddy-daughter dance.

Last year, TV newsman Victor Sotelo was seen at the dance with his daughter, who is friends with my daughter. When it came time for "The Chicken Dance," Victor conveniently told his date that it was time to go home.

Have you seen advertisements taped at local doughnut shops for fitness places? I'm just sayin' …

GETTING OUR PHIL

Continuing the "Year of McMurry" theme, the university gave an honorary degree to former pop superstar Phil Collins. That just kinda came out of nowhere, but certainly put McMurry's name out there.

McMurry continued its international theme by playing the University of Mexico in football, a game that didn't count for, well, anything other than goodwill and solid concession sales. My favorite moment came after the game, when a Pumas player shook hands with McMurry players, then walked to the War Hawks bench to shake hands with a coach. Then kept walking to the McMurry cheerleaders to congratulate them, personally.

His teammates had to call him to return to their sideline.

That's what we in the United States call a good game plan.

SPLASH DOWN!

The city opened a splash pad in Nelson Park in late summer. Of course, it came after Albany opened its new pool, to which the splash pad often was compared.

The opening of the splash pad didn't quench talk of Abilene needing a water park, complete with slides, lazy river and wave pools. Especially when the summer came in as the seventh hottest ever.

EGGSTRA, EGGSTRA!

Nothing we purposely did to put Abilene's good name in the news came close to the bounce we got when a monster egg — two eggs joined together — was discovered. Calls came from as far as New York City (New York City!?!)

A woman's $1 million electric bill also brought us more notoriety.

As did Abilene Christian being named one of the top 20 most beautiful college campuses.

You can't buy good publicity like this.

A FINAL NOTE

Personally, I want everyone to know that in 2012, I took and passed a drug test.